GRASS
MUSASIA LEON
BRIAN KIPLIMO
HISTORY
Thatching methods have traditionally been passed
down from generation to generation, and numerous
descriptions of the materials and methods used in
Europe over the past three centuries survive in
archives and early publications.
In equatorial countries thatch is the prevalent local
material for roofs, and often walls.
Sugar cane leaf roofs are used in Kikuyu tribal homes
in Kenya.[3][4]
ADVANTAGES
 It is the most common roofing material in the
world, because the materials are readily
available.
 Because thatch is lighter, less timber is required
in the roof that supports it.
 Thatch is a versatile material when it comes to
covering irregular roof structures. This fact
lends itself to the use of second-hand, recycled
and natural materials that are not only more
sustainable, but need not fit exact standard
dimensions to perform well.
DISADVANTAGES
 Thatched houses are harder to insure because
of the perceived fire risk.
 And because thatching is labor-intensive, it is
much more expensive to thatch a roof than to
cover it with slate or tiles.
 Birds can damage a roof while they are
foraging for grubs, and rodents are attracted
by residual grain in straw.
FLAMMABILITY
Thatch is not as flammable as many people believe and burns slowly.
The vast majority of fires are linked to the use of wood burners and
faulty chimneys with degraded or poorly inserted or maintained flues.
Sparks from paper or burned rubbish can ignite dry thatch on the
surface around a chimney.
Fires can also begin when sparks or flames work their way through a
degraded chimney and ignite the surrounding semi-charred thatch.
This can be avoided by ensuring that the chimney is in good condition,
which may involve stripping thatch immediately surrounding the
chimney to the full depth of the stack. This can easily be done without
stripping thatch over the entire roof. Insurance premiums on thatched
houses are higher than average in part because of the perception that
thatched roofs are a fire hazard, but also because a thatch fire can
cause extensive smoke damage and a thatched roof is more expensive
to replace than a standard tiled/slate roof.
MAINTENANCE IN TEMPERATE
CLIMATES
Good thatch will not require frequent maintenance.
A ridge will normally last 8–14 years, and re-ridging
will be required several times during the lifespan of a
thatch.
Covering thatch with wire netting is no longer
recommended, as this will slow evaporation and
reduce its longevity.
Moss can be a problem if it is very thick, but is not
usually detrimental, and many species of moss are
actually protective.
Name; Yellow Thatching Grass or Yellow Hard Grass
Latin Name; Hyperthelia dissoluta
Uses; Yellow Hard Grass is grazed in the young stage but
later becomes too hard for grazing
Description; Yellow Hard Grass is a tall, tufted perennial
with 12 mm leaf blades and a length up to 3 m. The
inflorescence is purplish-red with yellow awns and the
leaf sheath has prominent auricles, with unbranched
culms.
Habitat; Yellow Thatching Grass usually grows in sandy
soil in bushveld with a rainfall in excess of 600 mm per
annum. It is also found in open grassland and sometimes
in other soil types. Often abundant along roadsides it is
found throughout tropical Africa.
Flowers; December – June
Traditional african homes
Grass thatched roofs
An outdoor dining area
A grass thatched roof with no walls
Rag
Other products of thatching